Shirley Temple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Temple
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| Born |
Shirley Jane Temple
April 23, 1928 |
| Died | February 10, 2014 (aged 85) Woodside, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | COPD and pneumonia |
| Other names | Shirley Temple Black |
| Years active | 1932–1963 |
| Spouse(s) | John Agar (m. 1945–1950, divorced, 1 child) Charles Alden Black (m. 1950–2005, his death, 2 children) |
| Children | Linda Susan Agar (b. 1948) Charles Black Jr (b. 1952) Lori Black (b. 1954) |
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Shirley Temple, also known as Shirley Temple Black (born April 23, 1928 – died February 10, 2014), was a famous American actress and television show host. She was especially known for her roles as a child star. Shirley Temple was the very first person to receive the Academy Juvenile Award in 1934, which was a special Oscar for young performers.
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Early Life
Shirley Jane Temple was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California. She was the third child of Gertrude Temple, a homemaker, and George Temple, who worked at a bank. Her family had roots from Dutch, English, and German backgrounds. She had two older brothers named John and George Jr.
Shirley's mother really encouraged her to sing, dance, and act from a young age. Around this time, her mother also started styling Shirley's hair in her famous ringlets.
Acting Career
Shirley Temple started her acting journey when she was just three years old.
Movies
Her first roles were in short films where she played very young children. In 1934, she became a huge star with the movie Bright Eyes. Many other popular movies followed, showing off her sweet charm and amazing talent. Some of these included Curly Top, The Little Colonel, Dimples, Wee Willie Winkie, and The Little Princess.
People loved Shirley as a child star, but her popularity changed as she grew into a young woman. She made some movies in her teenage years that were not very successful at the time. However, three of her later films are now considered classics: Since You Went Away, Fort Apache (with Henry Fonda and John Wayne), and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy). Shirley Temple married John Agar in 1945. In 1950, she married Charles Black and decided to stop acting in movies when she was 22 years old.
Television
After getting married and becoming a mother, Shirley Temple returned to entertainment in the late 1950s. She hosted a television show for NBC called Shirley Temple's Storybook. This show was made for children and families. It featured plays based on famous fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast, children's stories like Pippi Longstocking, and even some stories for older audiences. Many famous actors appeared on the show, including Charlton Heston and Elsa Lanchester. The series was nominated for an Emmy Award for children's programming. It ran for two seasons.
Life in Politics
Shirley Temple became involved in politics, joining the Republican Party in California. She was very active with the Commonwealth Club of California, which is a group that discusses public issues in San Francisco. She spoke at many of their meetings and even served as their president in 1984.
Shirley Temple was chosen by President Richard M. Nixon to be a representative to the United Nations General Assembly in 1969. Later, President Gerald R. Ford appointed her as the United States Ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976. She then became the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States, a role where she managed official events for the US government. Finally, President George H. W. Bush appointed her as the United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992.
Later Life and Death
Shirley Temple passed away on February 10, 2014, at her home in Woodside, California. She was 85 years old.
Interesting Facts About Shirley Temple
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- Many people thought Shirley Temple wore a wig because her hair was so perfectly curled. Fans would sometimes even pull her hair to check! She later said she wished it was just a wig because getting her curls ready every night was a long and difficult process. She even had weekly vinegar rinses that stung her eyes.
- The movie Bright Eyes featured the song "On the Good Ship Lollipop". This song became Shirley Temple's most famous and recognizable song.
- As a child actress, Shirley Temple sometimes wore special dental plates or caps to hide the gaps in her teeth.
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt once praised her performances. He said that for a small amount of money, Americans could go to a movie, see her smiling face, and forget their worries.
Images for kids
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Publicity photo of Temple and James Dunn in Bright Eyes (1934)
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Temple's handprints and footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles
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Temple leaving the White House offices with her mother and bodyguard John Griffith, 1938
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Temple in 1965
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Shirley Temple with Richard Nixon and Brent Scowcroft on February 28, 1974
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Shirley Temple with her daughter Linda Susan (1948)
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Temple wearing the Kennedy Center Honors, 1998
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See also
In Spanish: Shirley Temple para niños
